Almost, but not quite, back to normal

Well that was a lovely weekend. We had C’s sister Annie down (with two Jack Russells who were better behaved than their breed might suggest). And then Jen and James popped in  today for Sunday lunch. Roast lamb was enjoyed by all. It was particularly good to see Annie. We walked the estate on Saturday morning ending up at the Vestry cafe, which is in the village (Uley). It’s not what you expect … in that you might think it would be a bit vinyl table and polyprop chair. It is not. It’s all heavy wooden furniture and tasteful decor and the food and coffee is lovely. Well done them.

Annie cam down …

That capped off a week where, as best we could, we finished off mum’s affairs in Great Bentley, and we registered her death in Colchester before heading home via Mary’s. I’d like to think I have come to terms with the whole thing, but I sense that I have not. Out of sight is … well, you know the saying. I guess we’ll have a relapse come the funeral. And, back home, I have spoken to the banks etc and I am just one more ‘tell us that your mum died’ communication from finishing the whole sorry affair. That’s tomorrow’s job. And then probate. That’ll be fun.

My ‘registering mum’s death face’ we found a nice cafe in Dursley

It is fab to be back in Dursley. The house is pretty perfect and the grounds to die for. We have been out on our feet a lot – I have run twice. And it’s always a pleasure. There is so much space and so much wildlife. We have two resident buzzards and there was a red kite overhead yesterday. Cassie, Jen’s dog, had a half hearted attempt to chase a deer as it dashed out in front of us across a field earlier today. There are sheep and owls and moles and who knows what else. And it’s all so open. We are residents so we can walk any field we like and that makes us feel immensely privileged. Fabulous.

I washed Annie’s car, and ours. And I started to look around Doris, to make sure she’s in good nick (after a ‘no advisories’ recent MoT – yippee). She needs a good wash and I might get round to that this week. I’m keen to get away in her but I feel that C will be more inclined to enjoy her new home, which is wholly understandable. I think we might end up breaking clean in mid-May with a trip to Scotland. We’ll see.

Cassie came for lunch.

In the meantime I’m waiting out for my mate and his book. It’s been over three weeks now which, in many ways, has been a fortuitous gap, as it allowed us to entertain Bex, Steven and Henry in Chatel, and then for me to be with and then process mum’s death. If I don’t have an answer (on the book) by the end of the week, I think I’ll start to get a little anxious. If the answer is ‘no’, I’ve got a job to do to work out what I do next. If my Bill Brysonesque writing style (for Guy’s book) is not what the publishers want, then maybe it’s time to hang up my fountain pen and try something else? Perhaps. 

We’re off to London on Wednesday. My late brother Kevin’s younger daughter Grace has just graduated from drama college and her show is being put on in a theatre in London. C and I are staying with her cousin Eva and we’re all heading out for the evening. How lucky are we? And then, on the way home on Thursday, we’re popping into Windsor Castle. Friends of ours have a job there, of which I will regale the details when we next chat.

Until then, stay safe!